Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-06-16

l wasn't going to be riled, nor thrown OF
the track so | Jest said: ~Yes; DO YOU
and | get two shiIlin's worth a piece a
week out O. that blessed little church Of
ourn do you think ?" says |. "Co's, if
We do, want to give two shillin's week
to keep it goin', and | thought maybe
you could do as much" SO he said he
guessed we could stand that, and | said t:
That's my proposition, and mean to
see if We can't find somebody else that'll
do the same. It'll show disposition,
anyway"
well, l suppose you'll hev your own
way" says he; you most always do"
Then brought out my subscription pa
per. l had it all ready. didn't jest
know how to shape it, but | knew it was
something about "the sums set opposite
our names" and 50 | drawed it up, and
took my chances. you must head it"
says I, because your the warden, and |
must 20 on next, because l am the war
den's wife, and then III see some Of the
rest Of the folks"
So Kiah sot down, and put on his
specs, and took his pen, but did not
write. What's the matter p says /.
And he said I'm sort o shamed to
subscribe two shillin's. l never signed
50 little as tnat for anything. | used to
give that 10 the circus when | was moth
in but boy and I ought to do more
than that to support the gospel. Two
shiIIin's 4 week Why, its only a shil-
lin 4 sermon, and all the other services
throwed in. l can't 20 less than fifty
cents, am sure" 60 down he went for
fifty cents, and then l signed for quar-
ter, and then my sun-bonnet went onto
nv head pretty lively, and says | : "Hez-
ekiah, there's some cold potato in the
pantry, and YOU know where to find the
salt so if an not back by dinner tine,
don't be bashfuI, help yourself t. And |
started.
called on the Smith family first. I
felt sure Of them. And they we're just
happy. Mr. Smith signed, and so did
Mrs. Smith and long John, he came in
while we were talkin', AID put his name
down and then old Grandma Smith,
she didn't want to be left out 20 there
was four of 'em. I've alters found it
great thipg in any good enterprise to en-
list the Smith family. There's a good
many Of 'em. Next, l called on the
Joslyns, and, next, on the Chapins, and
then on the Widdie Chadwick, and so |
kept on.
met 4 little trouble once or twice,
but not much. There was Fussy Furber,
and, bein' trustee, he thought I was out
of my spear, he said and he want it
understood that such work belonged to
the trustees. "To be sure" said I, "Pm
Glad I've found it out. wish the trus-
tees had discovered it 4 leetle sooner"
Then there was Sister Puffy, that's got
the asthma. She thought We ought to
be lookin' after sperritooaIities." She
said we must 20 down before the Lord.
She didn't think churches could be run
on money. But told her | guessed We
should be jest a. spiritual to look into
our pocket-books little, and I said If
was a shame to be tarnally beggin' 80 Of
the Board.
She looked dreadful solemn when ]
said that, and almost felt As I'd been
eommittin' profane language. But
hope the Lord viii forgive ne if took
anything in vain. I did not take my
/ call in vain, tell you. Mrs. Puffy i
good, only she allus wanted to talk SC
pious and she put down her two shil
| lin's and then hove 4 sigh. Then found
the boys at the cooper shop and got sey
en- names there at one lick; and when tL'
list began to grow people seemed asham
ed to say no, and kept gaining til
had Jest an even hundred, and then
went home.
Well, it was pretty well towards can
delight when got back, and was tha
tired I didn't know much Of anything
! I'VE washed, and I've scrubbed, and "
baked. and I've cleaned house, and "
: billed soap, and I've moved; and 'lo'
/ that a'most any one Of that sort Of thing
Is little exhaustin'. But put your ia
kin and moyin' and bilin' soap all to
cether, and It won't work out a. mucl
genuine tired-souI and body-as on
= day with c subscription paper % supper
the gospel. % when I sort o droppe
into i chair, ard Hezekiah said, Well
I was past speakin' and put ny ehee
apron up to my face As I hadn't don
. since I Vas 4 voung. foolish girl, and cri